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Cyber Report #1,015

Saturday is National Bowling Day, and the industry is driving consumers to local centers through its national promotions.

Bowling will be front and center with two lanes being constructed on the set of FOX & Friends in New York City for Saturday’s broadcast. Bowling Proprietors’ Association of America President Randy Thompson, along with professional bowlers Parker Bohn III, Andrew Anderson and Daria Pajak, will be on hand to provide information about National Bowling Day and tips to the hosts of the show.

The newly-introduced Go Bowling Pin Car also will be showcased on the FOX Plaza.

Starting Saturday, the bowling industry is offering consumers a free game at participating bowling centers across the country. Consumers can visit GoBowling.com to download a coupon good for a free game any day between Aug. 11 and 31.

“Bowling is a great way to spend time and have fun with friends and family, and that’s the message we are going to be sharing with viewers across the country,” said John Harbuck, President of Strike Ten Entertainment, the marketing arm of the industry. “We’re excited to have bowlers of all ages come out to celebrate National Bowling Day.”

The industry utilizes National Bowling Day, traditionally recognized on the second Saturday of August, to promote the sport and encourage families and friends to spend time together on the lanes.

Strike Ten Entertainment has provided bowling centers with a variety of marketing tools to promote the day to their customers and to others in their local market areas through its Social Media Content Bank.

“Bowling centers nationwide serve as community hubs for birthday parties, charitable events, social events and competitive leagues,” Harbuck said. “Whether consumers are looking to get out of the summer heat, celebrate a special event or have one more fun night with the family before school starts, we are promoting National Bowling Day as the perfect opportunity for them to visit their local center.”

The National Bowling Day free-game coupon is valid for one game per customer per visit.

Spare Time Opens New Center in Greenville, S.C.

Spare Time Entertainment opened its new, upscale entertainment center in Greenville, S.C., with a special ribbon-cutting event on Monday.

The event gave the public an opportunity to tour the facility, meet the staff and attend a concert by an acclaimed Elvis tribute artist, Mark Shelton. He performed in Spare Time’s “Elite Suite” to benefit Retinitis Pigmentosa research.

“We’re so excited to have opened Spare Time in Greenville,” said Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Heather Provost. “Family is important to us, and our brand is perfect for young children, teenagers, parents and grandparents. We offer something for everyone. Spare Time’s family‐friendly environment is a place to bond.”

The 55,000-sq.-ft. facility features a laser tag arena with heart‐pounding music, fog and special effects; a 10,000-sq.-ft. game room with more than 100 arcade games and a prize store; and four thrilling Escape Room adventures.

In addition, the center features a full‐service restaurant and bar with indoor and outdoor patio seating; a chef‐inspired menu; and 22 bowling lanes with theatre‐sized HD video walls.

A private bar, couches and eight bowling lanes reside in the upscale “Elite Suite” private-event space, where guests can relax amidst comfy décor and experience a new way to party.

With 17 locations throughout the Northeast and now rapidly growing in the Southeast — including Huntersville, N.C. (opened 2014); Trussville, Ala. (2014); Greensboro, N.C. (2013); Chattanooga, Tenn. (2003); Hixson, Tenn. (2003); and coming soon to the Charlotte, Raleigh and Cary, N.C., areas — Spare Time Entertainment says it will continue to demonstrate care for the places where their employees and guests live.

Strang Marks 30 Years With ZOT Pinsetter Parts

Dave Strang, the lead designer and machinist at ZOT Pinsetter Parts, just celebrated his 30th anniversary with the company, it was announced by ZOT President P.J. Rosendahl.

“Since joining ZOT in 1988, Dave has been responsible for Computer Aided Control (CAD) design for virtually every metal-fabricated part and assembly featured in ZOT’s extensive catalog, and for programming and tooling ZOT’s Computer Numerical Controlled (CNC) manufacturing machines,” Rosendahl said. “In short, if it’s in the catalog, Dave played an integral role in the manufacturing process. He’s also responsible for training and supervision of employees who operate the various CNC machines.”

The Denver-born Strang graduated from Northern Arizona University with a BS in Manufacturing. He’s an avid skier, golfer and cyclist in his spare time, and also plays both an acoustic and electric guitar.

Changes to IBPSIA Master Class Curriculum Deemed ‘Stellar’

The second International Bowling Pro Shop and Instructors Association Master Class was held at South Point Hotel and Casino June 15-17, taught by Master Instructors Daniel Puerto and Jordan Vanover. The class sold out more than six weeks in advance.

“We were extremely pleased with the student turnout and the quality of this year’s Master Class” said Bill Supper, IBPSIA’s Executive Director. “Daniel and Jordan did an excellent job keeping the class engaged and invested in the learning process — and the curriculum revisions we made were stellar.”

The three-day event was packed with useful information and included a surprise guest speaker, Nick Siefert, head of Research and Development for 900 Global.

Students had 30 days to complete the final test before they could achieve the status of Certified Master Technician.

IBPSIA is in the planning stages for next year’s class. If you are interested in receiving information on the 2019 Master Class when it becomes available, email IBPSIA’s Administrative Assistant, Lori Mills Hurst, at lori@ibpsia.com.

Early Xtravaganza Entrant Wins Suite Upgrade

Linda Robertson has been selected as the winner of the International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame’s Xtravaganza Tournament early-registration suite upgrade.

The 2019 Xtravaganza once again will be held at the Red Rock resort in Las Vegas, and entries the IBMHF fundraiser will continue to be accepted until the capacity of 120 teams is reached. While all the guest rooms at Red Rock are beautiful, the suites are more spacious and include bonus amenities.

The Xtravaganza is a fun bowling event held each year that gives bowlers an opportunity to win cash and prizes as they raise funds for the IBMHF. The 2018 event raised more than $78,000.

Dates for the 2019 event are May 30-June 1. The entry fee is $625 per two-person team, which includes:

* The opportunity for two bowlers (at least 21 years of age) to compete for $25,000 in cash and merchandise prizes

While the rest of the nation was observing the Independence Day holiday, the Illinois State Bowling Proprietors Association was celebrating the two-millionth dollar disbursed from its popular Grand Prix Scholarship Program.

The ISBPA crossed the threshold July 11, when a high school graduate bowling out of Edison’s Entertainment Center in Edwardsville asked officials to send $4,231.99 in scholarship money to Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville.

The Illinois program is one of several state Grand Prix programs in which youth bowlers take part across the United States. However, it is the first to exceed the $2 million mark in scholarship disbursements. The Illinois State BPA program also was the first to exceed the $1 million milestone in July 2010.

Approximately 3,000 youth bowlers and more than 60 ISBPA bowling centers participate in the Illinois Grand Prix program. Bowlers earn points for league attendance, tournament participation and sportsmanship. Participants can convert the points to scholarship dollars when they graduate from high school.

“Proprietors have much better retention rates for their youth bowlers through this program,” Duff said. “That’s because a bowler must register in a Grand Prix center each year. He or she must also bowl continuously in a Grand Prix center until graduating from high school to be able to redeem points for scholarship money.

“And because youngsters receive scholarships that reward a majority of points based on league participation rather than achievement or skill, they don’t have to be star athletes to earn scholarship money.”

The Foundation of the Illinois State BPA has awarded 3,736 scholarships paid to more than 100 post-secondary educational institutions across the country since the Illinois Grand Prix program was founded in 1989. The school most often designated to receive funds is Joliet (Ill.) Junior College. Grand Prix bowlers have received an average award of $538 over the course of the program. Duff said the figure has increased every year since funds were first disbursed in 1990.

“We also have approximately $1.1 million in escrow awaiting those currently registered in the program,” he said.

The more funds an individual center raises for the program, the higher the scholarship dollar value for each point a bowler earns and redeems.

“We do things like Scotch doubles parties or prize raffles for our night leagues,” said Elk Grove Bowl proprietor Debbie Handler. “Every May, we send a check for the money we collect to ISBPA’s Grand Prix Foundation. It’s held in our Grand Prix account and is earmarked for our registered bowlers. Our customers know the more we raise, the more our Grand Prix youth bowlers can reap in scholarship funds.”

Business Briefs…

* The Lower Broadway strip in Nashville, Tenn., already is home to numerous honky-tonks. So when the co-owners of Nashville Underground, brothers Joey and Gavin DeGraw, were seeking a different business model for their six-story building, they embraced bowling. Plans now call for Broadway Bowl and Bull to occupy floors three and four, with an opening sometime in 2019 planned. “What do you do with all this space?” posed Joey DeGraw to the Tennessean. “We have the opportunity to do something that can differentiate us… Bowling is weatherproof. A lot of families come here during the day. I think this would be appealing to them.” Full story: https://www.tennessean.com/story/money/2018/08/06/nashville-bowling-lower-broadway-bowl-bull-gavin-degraw/880340002/.

* Holiday Lanes in Albert Lea, Minn., is scheduled to close on Aug. 19, another victim of declining interest in league play and the numerous entertainment options available to families today. “It just kind of comes down to kids are just as happy playing at home with their video games as they are going bowling,” General Manager Dustin Barr told ABC-6 News. The center opened in 1990, and was double-shifted with evening leagues for several years. Read more here: https://www.kaaltv.com/news/holiday-lanes-business-closing-bowling-bowling-alley/5023217/.

* Carol P. Lally, publisher of Play Meter magazine, has announced her retirement and the subsequent close of the periodical that served the coin-machine industry for 44-and-a-half years. Play Meter published close to 600 issues over its long history.

* New owners of the Wright Building in Pittsfield, Mass., plan to redevelop the property into residential apartments, and have given all 28 business tenants eviction notices — including a candlepin bowling center that has been in operation for more than 60 years. For 42 of those years, Candle Lanes has been operated by operated by George Aslan, who often would open the center for guests even during non-business hours. He lived just four minutes and a phone call away. Read News Channel 13’s full report here: https://wnyt.com/news/candle-pin-bowling-pittsfield-wright-building-eviction-aslan/5021501/.

Other News You Can Use…

* The 2018 edition of the New Mexico Open is ready to roll next week at Tenpins and More, a BPAA-member center in Rio Rancho, N.M. According to proprietor Steve Mackie, more than 180 entries have been received for the event, which this year is part of the World Bowling Tour schedule and will award a $12,000 first-place prize. The defending champion is Vern Peterson, who authors BJI’s “No Holes Barred” ball review column. To view the event’s program booklet, go to: http://www.tenpins-more.com.

* On the latest episode of The Bowlers Journal Podcast, Diana Zavjalova talks with BJI Editor Gianmarc Manzione about her recent win in the PWBA St. Petersburg-Clearwater Open, her love of skateboarding, the story behind her distinctive hairdo, and more. Listen here:

* Newcomer John Marsala of St. Louis, beat Michael Haugen Jr. of Phoenix, 224-218, in the title match to win the PBA50 Dave Small’s Championship Lanes Classic presented by Roto Grip Tuesday for his first PBA50 Tour title. Marsala, bowling in his fifth PBA50 Tour tournament, took control after five consecutive strikes in the middle of the title match and sewed up the win with a nine-count on his first ball in the 10th frame. Haugen, whose second-place finish was enough to lock up PBA50 Player of the Year honors, was unable to string strikes until the 9th and 10th frames, but by then it was too late. Report: http://www.bowlersjournal.com/newcomer-marsala-beats-haugen-for-first-pba50-tour-title-haugen-wins-pba50-player-of-the-year/.

* The 2018 USBC Senior Championships concluded Friday at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno, crowning 12 champions from 11 states. Nearly 400 bowlers from across the United States and Canada laced up at the 78-lane venue and competed in one of two divisions, Open and Women’s, and six age classifications (50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75 and above). Standings: https://www.bowl.com/Senior_Championships/Senior_Champ_Home/2018_Results/.

* Liz Kuhlkin rode a wave of confidence going into the St. Petersburg-Clearwater Open after winning the U.S. Women’s Open little more than a month earlier, and it showed: Despite a crazy flight through thunderstorms as she headed into Florida, causing her to miss the practice session, she averaged 251 in the opening block of the tournament and ultimately made her second consecutive TV show. She spoke with BJI Editor Gianmarc Manzione about the whirlwind that has been her 2018 season. Listen here: